Methods, systems, and media for navigating through a stream of content items

ABSTRACT

Methods, systems, and media for navigating through content are provided. In some embodiments, the method comprises: receiving a first plurality of interactive stream items; causing the first plurality of interactive stream items to be presented in a first presentation mode; receiving a first user selection of an interactive stream item from at least a portion of the first plurality of interactive stream items; continuing to receive the stream of content including a second plurality of interactive stream items; determining a second presentation mode based at least in part on a content type associated with the second plurality of interactive stream items; causing the second plurality of interactive stream items to be presented in a second presentation mode; receiving a second user selection indicating that the interactive stream item is no longer selected; and causing the second plurality of interactive stream items to be presented in the first presentation mode.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No.17/007,109, filed Aug. 31, 2020, which is a continuation of U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 14/980,223, filed Dec. 28, 2015, each of which isincorporated by reference herein in its entirety.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The disclosed subject matter relates to methods, systems, and media fornavigating through a stream of content items.

BACKGROUND

People often participate in online chats with others. For example,people might want to participate in a chat while watching a video. Insome cases, screens that present the chat messages or media contentmight include interactive content, such as interfaces to initiate avideo call with another user, share a video, post a comment on a page,etc. However, it can be difficult to present received messages in thechat while a user is simultaneously viewing media content on the screen.

Accordingly, it is desirable to provide methods, systems, and media fornavigating through a stream of content items.

SUMMARY

Methods, systems, and media for navigating through a stream of contentitems are provided. In accordance with some embodiments of the disclosedsubject matter, methods for navigating through a stream of content itemsare provided, the methods comprising: causing a media content item to bepresented in a user interface; receiving a stream of content including afirst plurality of interactive stream items; causing the first pluralityof interactive stream items to be presented in a first presentationmode, wherein the first presentation mode presents each of the firstplurality of interactive stream items in a region of the user interfaceas each of the first plurality of interactive stream items is receivedand as the media content item is being presented; receiving a first userselection of an interactive stream item from at least a portion of thefirst plurality of interactive stream items that is currently beingpresented in the region of the user interface; continuing to receive thestream of content including a second plurality of interactive streamitems; in response to receiving the first user selection and the secondplurality of interactive stream items, determining a second presentationmode based at least in part on a content type associated with the secondplurality of interactive stream items; causing the second plurality ofinteractive stream items to be presented in a second presentation mode,wherein the second presentation mode presents each of the secondplurality of interactive stream items adjacent to the selectedinteractive stream item; receiving a second user selection indicatingthat the interactive stream item is no longer selected; and causing thesecond plurality of interactive stream items to be presented in thefirst presentation mode.

In accordance with some embodiments of the disclosed subject matter,systems for navigating through a stream of content items are provided,the systems comprising: a hardware processor that is programmed to:cause a media content item to be presented in a user interface; receivea stream of content including a first plurality of interactive streamitems; cause the first plurality of interactive stream items to bepresented in a first presentation mode, wherein the first presentationmode presents each of the first plurality of interactive stream items ina region of the user interface as each of the first plurality ofinteractive stream items is received and as the media content item isbeing presented; receive a first user selection of an interactive streamitem from at least a portion of the first plurality of interactivestream items that is currently being presented in the region of the userinterface; continue to receive the stream of content including a secondplurality of interactive stream items; in response to receiving thefirst user selection and the second plurality of interactive streamitems, determine a second presentation mode based at least in part on acontent type associated with the second plurality of interactive streamitems; cause the second plurality of interactive stream items to bepresented in a second presentation mode, wherein the second presentationmode presents each of the second plurality of interactive stream itemsadjacent to the selected interactive stream item; receive a second userselection indicating that the interactive stream item is no longerselected; and cause the second plurality of interactive stream items tobe presented in the first presentation mode.

In accordance with some embodiments of the disclosed subject matter,non-transitory computer-readable media containing computer executableinstructions that, when executed by a processor, cause the processor toperform a method for navigating through a stream of content items areprovided. The method comprises: causing a media content item to bepresented in a user interface; receiving a stream of content including afirst plurality of interactive stream items; causing the first pluralityof interactive stream items to be presented in a first presentationmode, wherein the first presentation mode presents each of the firstplurality of interactive stream items in a region of the user interfaceas each of the first plurality of interactive stream items is receivedand as the media content item is being presented; receiving a first userselection of an interactive stream item from at least a portion of thefirst plurality of interactive stream items that is currently beingpresented in the region of the user interface; continuing to receive thestream of content including a second plurality of interactive streamitems; in response to receiving the first user selection and the secondplurality of interactive stream items, determining a second presentationmode based at least in part on a content type associated with the secondplurality of interactive stream items; causing the second plurality ofinteractive stream items to be presented in a second presentation mode,wherein the second presentation mode presents each of the secondplurality of interactive stream items adjacent to the selectedinteractive stream item; receiving a second user selection indicatingthat the interactive stream item is no longer selected; and causing thesecond plurality of interactive stream items to be presented in thefirst presentation mode.

In accordance with some embodiments of the disclosed subject matter, asystem for navigating through a stream of content items is provided, thesystem comprising: means for causing a media content item to bepresented in a user interface; means for receiving a stream of contentincluding a first plurality of interactive stream items; means forcausing the first plurality of interactive stream items to be presentedin a first presentation mode, wherein the first presentation modepresents each of the first plurality of interactive stream items in aregion of the user interface as each of the first plurality ofinteractive stream items is received and as the media content item isbeing presented; means for receiving a first user selection of aninteractive stream item from at least a portion of the first pluralityof interactive stream items that is currently being presented in theregion of the user interface; means for continuing to receive the streamof content including a second plurality of interactive stream items; inresponse to receiving the first user selection and the second pluralityof interactive stream items, means for determining a second presentationmode based at least in part on a content type associated with the secondplurality of interactive stream items; means for causing the secondplurality of interactive stream items to be presented in a secondpresentation mode, wherein the second presentation mode presents each ofthe second plurality of interactive stream items adjacent to theselected interactive stream item; means for receiving a second userselection indicating that the interactive stream item is no longerselected; and means for causing the second plurality of interactivestream items to be presented in the first presentation mode.

In some embodiments, the stream of content includes messages associatedwith an online conversation.

In some embodiments, the system further comprises: means for causing afirst interactive stream item of the first plurality of interactivestream items that was received at a first time to be presented at afirst position in the user interface; in response to receiving a secondinteractive stream item of the first plurality of interactive streamitems, means for causing the first interactive stream item to bepresented at a second position in the user interface; and means forcausing the second interactive stream item to be presented at the firstposition in the user interface.

In some embodiments, the first position is below the second position.

In some embodiments, the system further comprises: means for causing theselected interactive stream item to be presented at a first position inthe user interface; means for causing a first interactive stream item ofthe second plurality of interactive stream items that was received at afirst time to be presented at a second position in the user interface,wherein the second position is below the first position; in response toreceiving a second interactive stream item of the second plurality ofinteractive stream items at a second time, means for causing the firstinteractive stream item to be presented at a third position in the userinterface, wherein the third position is below the first position in theuser interface and above the second position in the user interface; andmeans for causing the second interactive stream item to be presented atthe second position in the user interface.

In some embodiments, the system further comprises: means for receiving athird interactive stream item at a third time; means for determiningthat the number of received interactive stream items exceeds apredetermined threshold; means for causing the first interactive streamitem to no longer be presented; means for causing the second interactivestream item to be presented at the third position in the user interface;and means for causing the third interactive stream item to be presentedat the second position on the screen.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Various objects, features, and advantages of the disclosed subjectmatter can be more fully appreciated with reference to the followingdetailed description of the disclosed subject matter when considered inconnection with the following drawings, in which like reference numeralsidentify like elements.

FIGS. 1A, 1B, and 3 show examples of user interfaces for presenting astream of content in connection with presentation of a video inaccordance with some embodiments of the disclosed subject matter.

FIGS. 2A and 2B show examples of user interfaces for presenting a streamof content and an interactive stream item in accordance with someembodiments of the disclosed subject matter.

FIG. 4 shows a schematic diagram of an illustrative system suitable forimplementation of mechanisms described herein for navigating through astream of content items in accordance with some embodiments of thedisclosed subject matter.

FIG. 5 shows a detailed example of hardware that can be used in a serverand/or a user device of FIG. 4 in accordance with some embodiments ofthe disclosed subject matter.

FIG. 6 shows an example of a process for navigating through a stream ofcontent items in accordance with some embodiments of the disclosedsubject matter.

FIGS. 7A, 7B, 8A, 8B, and 9 show alternative examples of user interfacefor presenting a stream of content in connection with presentation of avideo in accordance with some embodiments of the disclosed subjectmatter.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In accordance with various embodiments, mechanisms (which can includemethods, systems, and media) for navigating through a stream of contentitems are provided.

In accordance with some embodiments, the mechanisms described herein cancause a stream of content to be presented in a first presentation modeon the screen of a user device. For example, in some embodiments, thestream of content can include messages in an online conversation (e.g.,chat messages, instant messages, text messages, emails, and/or any othersuitable type of messages). In some embodiments, presentation of themessages can be updated in any suitable manner as new messages arereceived. For example, in some embodiments, the mechanisms can causemessages to scroll in a particular direction on the screen to allownewly received messages to be presented, and can cause only the mostrecently received messages in the conversation to be presented.

In some embodiments, the mechanisms can determine that an interactivestream item from the stream of content has been selected on the userdevice. For example, in some embodiments, the interactive stream itemcan include an interface to initiate an audio and/or video call withanother user, an interface to share a video being presented, aninterface to comment on a web page and/or on a page of a socialnetworking site, and/or any other suitable interactive stream item. Insome embodiments, the mechanisms can cause the messages of the onlineconversation to be presented in a second presentation mode on thescreen. For example, in some embodiments, the mechanisms can continuepresenting the interactive stream item as a user interacts with theinteractive stream item, and can cause the messages to scroll in aportion of the screen that does not include the interactive stream item.In some embodiments, the mechanisms can then cause presentation of themessages to revert to the first presentation mode after determining thatthe interactive stream item is no longer selected and/or is no longerbeing interacted with.

Note that, in some embodiments, the mechanisms described herein can beused for a variety of applications. For example, in some embodiments,the mechanisms described herein can be used in any applications in whicha stream of content items is presented and updated as additional contentitems within the stream are received. As a more particular example, insome embodiments, the stream of content items can include receivedmessages (e.g., text messages, chat messages, e-mails, notifications ofvoice and/or video calls, and/or any other suitable types of messages),notifications received from any suitable application (e.g., a socialnetworking site, an e-mail client, and/or any other suitableapplication), and/or any other suitable types of streamed items.Additionally, in some embodiments, the stream of items can be presentedin connection with any other suitable content, such as video content(e.g., streaming video, a television program, a movie, and/or any othersuitable type of video content), an audio and/or video call, and/or anyother suitable content.

Turning to FIG. 1A, an example 100 of a user interface for presenting astream of content is shown in accordance with some embodiments of thedisclosed subject matter. In some embodiments, user interface 100 caninclude video content 102 and message interface 104. Note that, in FIGS.1A, 1B, 2A, 2B, and 3 , the stream of content includes messages that areshown in connection with a presentation of video content, but that themessages can be presented in connection with any suitable type ofcontent and/or without accompanying content.

In some embodiments, video content 102 can include any suitable type ofvideo content (e.g., television programs, movies, live-streamed content,and/or any other suitable type of content). In some embodiments, videocontent 102 can be presented within a video player window with anysuitable controls (e.g., a pause control, a rewind control, afast-forward control, a volume control, and/or any other suitablecontrols). Note that the position of video content 102 within userinterface 100 is shown as an example, and video content 102 can bepresented at any suitable location in user interface 100.

In some embodiments, message interface 104 can be any suitable interfacefor presenting messages in an online conversation (e.g., a chat,received text messages, received email messages, and/or any othersuitable type of online conversation). In some embodiments, messageinterface 104 can be a region or a portion of a user interface thatpresents video content 102. Additionally or alternatively, in someembodiments, message interface 104 can be a region for performing anyother suitable actions, such as initiating and/or answer an audio and/orvideo call, commenting on a post on a social networking site, endorsingmedia content (e.g., video content 102, and/or any other suitable mediacontent), and/or performing any other suitable actions. In someembodiments, messages presented in message interface 104 can be receivedfrom any suitable number (e.g., one, two, three, ten, and/or any othersuitable number) of user devices. Individual messages presented inmessage interface 104, such as message 106, can include any suitablecontent. For example, in some embodiments, message 106 can include anysuitable text, icons, graphics, images, animations, links, and/or anyother suitable content. Additionally, in some embodiments, message 106can indicate any suitable information associated with the message, suchas a name of a sender of the message, a time the message was sent, anicon associated with a sender of the message, and/or any other suitableinformation.

In some embodiments, messages can be updated within message interface104, for example, as new messages are received. An example 150 of a userinterface for updating messages is shown in FIG. 1B in accordance withsome embodiments. In some embodiments, newly received messages can bepresented at one end of message interface 104 (e.g., a bottom portion ofmessage interface 104 as shown in FIG. 1B, a top portion of messageinterface 104, and/or at any other suitable position in messageinterface 104), and previously received messages can be moved in aparticular direction (e.g., up, down, left, right, and/or in any othersuitable direction) to allow the newly received message to be presentedin message interface 104. For example, as shown in FIG. 1B, new message158 can be presented at the bottom of message interface 104, and apreviously received message, such as message 106 in FIG. 1A, can bepresented above new message 158. In some embodiments, a fixed number(e.g., two, four, ten, and/or any other suitable number) of messages canbe presented in message interface 104, and the oldest received messagescan be removed from presentation in message interface 104 to allow themost recently received messages of the fixed number of messages to bepresented. Alternatively, in some embodiments, a fixed amount of messagecontent (e.g., a predetermined number of lines of text, and/or any othersuitable amount of message content) can be presented in messageinterface 104.

In some embodiments, interactive stream items can be presented in a userinterface that includes a message interface, as shown in user interface200 of FIG. 2A. The interactive stream items can include any suitablecontent that a user can interact with. For example, in some embodiments,an individual message in message interface 104 can be selectable, andselection of the message can cause an interface allowing differentactions to be presented. As a more particular example, in someembodiments, the interface can allow a user to initiate an audio and/ora video call with a user device associated with the selected message, awindow associated with an email client to be opened, and/or any othersuitable action. As shown in FIG. 2A, in some embodiments, aninteractive stream item 202 can be presented within message interface104.

In some embodiments, newly received messages can be presented in messageinterface 104 while the interactive stream item is presented, as shownin user interface 250 of FIG. 2B. For example, as shown in FIG. 2B, apreviously received message (e.g., message 158) can be moved upwardwithin message interface 104 but kept below interactive stream item 202to allow new message 252 to be presented below message 158. In some suchembodiments, a position of interactive stream item 202 can be kept fixedwhile newly received messages are presented below interactive streamitem 202. Note that, in some embodiments, a user can keep interactingwith interactive stream item 202 while messages are being presented. Insuch embodiments, newly received messages can be continuously presentedat a bottom portion of message interface 104 while the oldest previouslyreceived messages can be inhibited from presentation. In someembodiments, a fixed number (N) of messages can be presented belowinteractive stream item 202, and the most recently received N messagescan be presented below interactive stream item 202.

In some embodiments, presentation of messages within message interface104 can revert to a first presentation mode as shown in user interface300 of FIG. 3 when interaction with interactive stream item 202 stops.For example, as shown in user interface 300, presentation of interactivestream item 202 can be inhibited, and newly received messages can bepresented over the entire portion of message interface 104.

In some embodiments, the stream of content can be presented in a regionor interface that is overlaid on a presentation of a video, as shown inuser interfaces 700, 750, 800, 850, and 900 of FIGS. 7A, 7B, 8A, 8B, and9 . For example, video content 702 can be presented as a full-screenvideo within user interface 700, and a message interface 704 can beoverlaid on video content 702. In some such embodiments, individualmessages, such as message 706 can be presented within message interface704, and can be overlaid on video content 702. As shown in FIGS. 7B and9 , as new messages are received, messages within message interface 704can be updated as described above in connection with FIGS. 1B and 3 ,and the newly received messages can be presented within messageinterface 704 and overlaid on video content 702. As shown in FIGS. 8Aand 8B, an interactive element 802 can be selected and interacted withwithin message interface 704 while presentation of video content 702continues.

Note that FIGS. 1A, 1B, 2A, 2B, 3, 7A, 7B, 8A, 8B, and 9 are merelyillustrative, and a stream of content and video content that is beingconcurrently presented can be arranged in any suitable manner.

Turning to FIG. 4 , an example 400 of hardware for presenting messagesin connection with interactive content that can be used in accordancewith some embodiments of the disclosed subject matter is shown. Asillustrated, hardware 400 can include one or more servers such as acontent server 402 and a message server 404, a communication network406, and/or one or more user devices 408, such as user devices 410 and412.

In some embodiments, content server 402 can be any suitable server forstoring and/or transmitting media content to user device 408. Forexample, in some embodiments, content server 402 can be a server thatstreams media content to user device 408 via communication network 406.In some embodiments, media content stored on content server 402 can beany suitable media content, such as audio content, video content,television programs, movies, radio programs, live-streaming mediacontent, audio books, and/or any other suitable type of media content.

In some embodiments, message server 404 can be any suitable server forstoring items in a stream of content. For example, in some embodiments,message server 404 can store messages in an online conversation and/orcause messages in an online conversation to be presented on user device408. As a more particular example, in some embodiments, message server404 can receive messages sent from multiple user devices associated withmultiple users in connection with an online conversation and can causethe received messages to be presented in any suitable format on userdevice 208, as described below in connection with FIG. 6 .

Communication network 406 can be any suitable combination of one or morewired and/or wireless networks in some embodiments. For example,communication network 406 can include any one or more of the Internet,an intranet, a wide-area network (WAN), a local-area network (LAN), awireless network, a digital subscriber line (DSL) network, a frame relaynetwork, an asynchronous transfer mode (ATM) network, a virtual privatenetwork (VPN), and/or any other suitable communication network. Userdevices 408 can be connected by one or more communications links 414 tocommunication network 406 that can be linked via one or morecommunications links (e.g., communications links 416 and 418) toserver(s) 402 and/or 404. Communications links 414, 416, and/or 418 canbe any communications links suitable for communicating data among userdevices 408 and server(s) 402 and 404 such as network links, dial-uplinks, wireless links, hard-wired links, any other suitablecommunications links, or any suitable combination of such links.

In some embodiments, user devices 408 can include one or more computingdevices suitable for viewing media content, sending and/or receivingmessages, and/or any other suitable functions. For example, in someembodiments, user devices 408 can be implemented as a mobile device,such as a smartphone, mobile phone, a tablet computer, a laptopcomputer, a vehicle (e.g., a car, a boat, an airplane, or any othersuitable vehicle) entertainment system, a portable media player, and/orany other suitable mobile device. As another example, in someembodiments, user devices 408 can be implemented as a non-mobile devicesuch as a desktop computer, a set-top box, a television, a streamingmedia player, a game console, and/or any other suitable non-mobiledevice.

Although servers 402 and 404 are illustrated as two devices, thefunctions performed by servers 402 and 404 can be performed using anysuitable number of devices in some embodiments. For example, in someembodiments, the functions performed by content server 402 and messageserver 404 can be performed by a single server. As another example, insome embodiments, multiple devices can be used to implement thefunctions performed by content server 402 and/or message server 404.

Although two user devices 410 and 412 are shown in FIG. 4 , any suitablenumber of user devices, and/or any suitable types of user devices, canbe used in some embodiments.

Content server 402, message server 404, and user devices 408 can beimplemented using any suitable hardware in some embodiments. Forexample, in some embodiments, devices 402, 404, and 408 can beimplemented using any suitable general purpose computer or specialpurpose computer. For example, a server may be implemented using aspecial purpose computer. Any such general purpose computer or specialpurpose computer can include any suitable hardware. For example, asillustrated in example hardware 500 of FIG. 5 , such hardware caninclude hardware processor 502, memory and/or storage 504, an inputdevice controller 506, an input device 508, display/audio drivers 510,display and audio output circuitry 512, communication interface(s) 514,an antenna 516, and a bus 518.

Hardware processor 502 can include any suitable hardware processor, suchas a microprocessor, a micro-controller, digital signal processor(s),dedicated logic, and/or any other suitable circuitry for controlling thefunctioning of a general purpose computer or a special purpose computerin some embodiments. In some embodiments, hardware processor 502 can becontrolled by a server program stored in memory and/or storage 504 of aserver (e.g., such as servers 402 and/or 404). For example, the serverprogram on content server 402 can cause hardware processor 502 totransmit video content to user device 408, and/or perform any othersuitable actions. As another example, the server program on messageserver 404 can cause hardware processor 502 to receive messages frommultiple user devices in connection with an online conversation and totransmit the received messages to a user device for presentation. Insome embodiments, hardware processor 502 can be controlled by a computerprogram stored in memory and/or storage 504 of user device 408. Forexample, the computer program can cause hardware processor 502 topresent video content, present messages in connection with an onlineconversation, change a presentation of messages in the onlineconversation in response to determining that a user is interactive withinteractive content on the screen, and/or perform any other suitableactions.

Memory and/or storage 504 can be any suitable memory and/or storage forstoring programs, data, media content, advertisements, and/or any othersuitable information in some embodiments. For example, memory and/orstorage 504 can include random access memory, read-only memory, flashmemory, hard disk storage, optical media, and/or any other suitablememory.

Input device controller 506 can be any suitable circuitry forcontrolling and receiving input from one or more input devices 508 insome embodiments. For example, input device controller 506 can becircuitry for receiving input from a touchscreen, from a keyboard, froma mouse, from one or more buttons, from a voice recognition circuit,from a microphone, from a camera, from an optical sensor, from anaccelerometer, from a temperature sensor, from a near field sensor,and/or any other type of input device.

Display/audio drivers 510 can be any suitable circuitry for controllingand driving output to one or more display/audio output devices 512 insome embodiments. For example, display/audio drivers 510 can becircuitry for driving a touchscreen, a flat-panel display, a cathode raytube display, a projector, a speaker or speakers, and/or any othersuitable display and/or presentation devices.

Communication interface(s) 514 can be any suitable circuitry forinterfacing with one or more communication networks, such as network 406as shown in FIG. 4 . For example, interface(s) 514 can include networkinterface card circuitry, wireless communication circuitry, and/or anyother suitable type of communication network circuitry.

Antenna 516 can be any suitable one or more antennas for wirelesslycommunicating with a communication network (e.g., communication network406) in some embodiments. In some embodiments, antenna 516 can beomitted.

Bus 518 can be any suitable mechanism for communicating between two ormore components 502, 504, 506, 510, and 514 in some embodiments.

Any other suitable components can be included in hardware 500 inaccordance with some embodiments.

Turning to FIG. 6 , an example 600 of a process for navigating throughcontent is shown in accordance with some embodiments of the disclosedsubject matter. Note that, in some embodiments, blocks of process 600can be implemented on message server 404 and/or user device 408.

Process 602 can begin by causing a media content item to be presented ina user interface. For example, as shown in FIG. 1A, video content can bepresented in the user interface. In some embodiments, the media contentitem can be any suitable type of media content, such as a televisionprogram, a movie, a video, and/or any other suitable type of mediacontent. Additionally or alternatively, in some embodiments, process 600can cause any other type of content, such as a video call, to bepresented in the user interface.

Process 600 can receive a stream of content items at 604. For example,in some embodiments, the stream of content items can include messages(e.g., text messages, e-mails, chat messages, and/or any other suitabletypes of messages), comments (e.g., related to a particular mediacontent item, on a post on a social networking site, and/or any othersuitable types of comments), and/or any other suitable stream of contentitems.

In some embodiments, the stream of content items can include one or moreinteractive stream items. For example, in some embodiments, aninteractive stream item can be a content item that can be selected, andin response to being selected, a particular action can be initiatedand/or performed. As a more particular example, in instances where aninteractive stream item is a received message, selection of the streamitem can cause an interface that allows a user associated with thereceived message to be called (e.g., in an audio and/or a video call).As another more particular example, in instances where the interactivestream item is a received message, selection of the stream item cancause an interface to e-mail a user associated with the received messageto be presented. As yet another more particular example, in instanceswhere an interactive stream item is a comment on a social networkingsite, selection of the stream item can cause an interface that allowsthe comment to be replied to and/or endorsed to be presented.

Process 600 can cause the stream of content items, including theinteractive stream items, to be presented in a first presentation modeat 606. For example, as shown in FIG. 1A, the stream of content itemscan be presented in a message interface. In some embodiments, themessage interface can be presented in connection with a presentation ofmedia content, such as a video, a television program, a movie,live-streamed content, and/or any other suitable type of media content.

In some embodiments, process 600 can update the presentation of thestream of content items in any suitable manner. For example, in someembodiments, the message interface can be updated with new messages asthey are received, as shown in and discussed above in connection withFIGS. 1A and 1B. For example, in some embodiments, a fixed number (N) ofmessages can be presented in the message interface, with older messagesbeing removed from the message interface as newly received messages arepresented, as shown in and described above in connection with FIGS. 1Aand 1B. Note that, in some embodiments, a fixed amount of messagecontent can be presented in the message interface, rather than a fixednumber of messages.

Process 600 can receive an indication that an interactive stream itemhas been selected on the user device at 608. As described above, in someembodiments, the interactive stream item can represent any suitable typeof interactive content. For example, in some embodiments, selection of apresented message in message interface 104 can cause an interface forallowing a user to initiate an audio and/or video call with the userdevice associated with the selected message, open an email client totransmit an email to an account associated with the selected message,and/or perform any other suitable actions to be presented. In someembodiments, the interactive stream item can be selected in any suitablemanner. For example, in some embodiments, process 600 can determine thatthe interactive stream item has been selected in response to determiningthat a particular message and/or portion of a particular messagepresented in message interface 104 has been selected.

Process 600 can continue to receive the stream of content items at 610.For example, in instances where the stream of content items includesmessages received in an online conversation, process 600 can continuereceiving messages, from one or more user devices associated withparticipants in the online conversation. As another example, ininstances where the stream of content items includes comments on a poston a social networking site, process 600 can receive additional commentsassociated with the post.

In response to receiving the indication that the interactive stream itemhas been selected, process 600 can determine a second presentation modeand can cause the stream of content items to be presented in the secondpresentation mode at 612. Process 600 can determine the secondpresentation mode using any suitable technique or combination oftechniques. For example, in instances where the interactive stream itemincludes and/or is presented as a result of selection of one of themessages in the message interface, process 600 can identify a formatthat updates presentation of the messages in the online conversationaround the selected message. As another example, in instances where theinteractive stream item includes selection of portions of video contentpresented on the screen, process 600 can identify a format that presentsthe content stream in a portion of the screen that does not include theinteractive stream item and/or the selected portion of the videocontent. As yet another example, in some embodiments, the secondpresentation mode can be determined based on a content type associatedwith the selected interactive stream item. As a more particular example,in some embodiments, different formats can be selected when theinteractive stream item includes text messages, chat messages, e-mails,comments on a social networking post, and/or any other suitable type ofcontent item.

Process 600 can then cause the content stream items to be presented onthe screen in the second presentation mode. For example, in someembodiments, the messages can be presented such that a position of theinteractive stream item remains fixed on the screen and is available forfurther interaction by the user, and newly received messages are updatedadjacent to the position of the selected interactive stream item, asshown in and described above in connection with FIGS. 2A and 2B. As amore particular example, in some embodiments, a fixed number of messages(N′) can be presented below the interactive stream item within themessage interface, with older messages removed as newly receivedmessages are presented. Note that, in some embodiments, newly receivedmessages can be presented at any suitable location (e.g., most recentlyreceived messages can be presented at a top portion of the messageinterface, at a bottom portion of the message interface, at a leftportion of the message interface, at a right portion of the messageinterface, and/or at any other suitable position).

Process 600 can receive a second indication that the interactive streamitem is no longer selected and/or being interacted with on the userdevice at 614. For example, in some embodiments, the second indicationcan include information indicating that a user has closed an interfaceassociated with the interactive stream item (e.g., closed a window toinitiate an audio and/or video call, closed a window to send an email,closed a window to share a media content item, and/or closed any othersuitable interface).

At 616, process 600 can cause the messages in the online conversation tobe presented in the first presentation mode in response to determiningthat the interactive stream item is no longer selected and/or beinginteracted with. For example, in instances where the first presentationmode includes updating received messages in the conversation through anentire portion of a message interface (e.g., rather than a subset of themessage interface that does not include the interactive stream item),process 600 can resume using the entire portion of the messageinterface.

In some embodiments, at least some of the above described blocks of theprocess of FIG. 6 can be executed or performed in any order or sequencenot limited to the order and sequence shown in and described inconnection with the figure. Also, some of the above blocks of FIG. 6 canbe executed or performed substantially simultaneously where appropriateor in parallel to reduce latency and processing times. Additionally oralternatively, some of the above described blocks of the process of FIG.6 can be omitted.

In some embodiments, any suitable computer readable media can be usedfor storing instructions for performing the functions and/or processesherein. For example, in some embodiments, computer readable media can betransitory or non-transitory. For example, non-transitory computerreadable media can include media such as magnetic media (such as harddisks, floppy disks, and/or any other suitable magnetic media), opticalmedia (such as compact discs, digital video discs, Blu-ray discs, and/orany other suitable optical media), semiconductor media (such as flashmemory, electrically programmable read-only memory (EPROM), electricallyerasable programmable read-only memory (EEPROM), and/or any othersuitable semiconductor media), any suitable media that is not fleetingor devoid of any semblance of permanence during transmission, and/or anysuitable tangible media. As another example, transitory computerreadable media can include signals on networks, in wires, conductors,optical fibers, circuits, any suitable media that is fleeting and devoidof any semblance of permanence during transmission, and/or any suitableintangible media.

In situations in which the systems described herein collect personalinformation about users, or make use of personal information, the usersmay be provided with an opportunity to control whether programs orfeatures collect user information (e.g., information about a user'ssocial network, social actions or activities, profession, a user'spreferences, or a user's current location). In addition, certain datamay be treated in one or more ways before it is stored or used, so thatpersonal information is removed. For example, a user's identity may betreated so that no personal information can be determined for the user,or a user's geographic location may be generalized where locationinformation is obtained (such as to a city, ZIP code, or state level),so that a particular location of a user cannot be determined. Thus, theuser may have control over how information is collected about the userand used by a content server.

Accordingly, methods, systems, and media for navigating through a streamof content items are provided.

Although the invention has been described and illustrated in theforegoing illustrative embodiments, it is understood that the presentdisclosure has been made only by way of example, and that numerouschanges in the details of implementation of the invention can be madewithout departing from the spirit and scope of the invention, which islimited only by the claims that follow. Features of the disclosedembodiments can be combined and rearranged in various ways.

What is claimed is:
 1. A method for navigating through content, themethod comprising: causing, using a hardware processor, a user interfaceto be presented on a user device, wherein the user interface includes avideo content item that is concurrently displayed with a chat interfacethat presents one or more chat message items; receiving, using thehardware processor, a stream of content including a first plurality ofchat message items, wherein the first plurality of chat message itemsare received from a first plurality of user devices and wherein at leastone chat message item in the first plurality of chat message itemscomprises an interactive chat message item; causing, using the hardwareprocessor, at least a portion of the first plurality of chat messageitems to be presented in the chat interface that is concurrentlypresented with the video content item; receiving, using the hardwareprocessor, a first selection of the interactive chat message item fromthe portion of the first plurality of chat message items being presentedin the chat interface while continuing to receive the stream of content,wherein a second plurality of chat message items is included in thestream of content; and in response to receiving the first selectionwhile continuing to receive the second plurality of chat message items,causing, using the hardware processor, the second plurality of chatmessage items to be presented, wherein the selected interactive chatmessage item is held in a fixed position within the chat interface whilecontinuing to update the chat interface with additionally received chatmessage items as the additionally received chat message items arereceived from a second plurality of user devices other than the userdevice.
 2. The method of claim 1, wherein the first plurality of chatmessage items are presented in a first presentation mode in which the atleast a portion of the first plurality of chat message items isconcurrently presented with the video content item.
 3. The method ofclaim 2, wherein the second plurality of chat message items arepresented in a second presentation mode in which the selectedinteractive chat message item is held in the fixed position within thechat interface and the chat interface is updated with the additionallyreceived chat message items as the additionally received chat messageitems are received from the second plurality of user devices other thanthe user device.
 4. The method of claim 3, wherein fewer chat messageitems are presented within the chat interface while in the secondpresentation mode than are presented while in the first presentationmode.
 5. The method of claim 3, further comprising: receiving anindication that the first presentation mode is to be used; and inresponse to receiving the indication that the first presentation mode isto be used, returning to the first presentation mode in which theselected interactive chat message is no longer held in the fixedposition.
 6. The method of claim 1, wherein each chat message itempresented in the chat interface can be interacted with using the userdevice.
 7. The method of claim 6, wherein selection of a chat messageitem causes a communication interface for transmitting communications toa sender of the chat message item to be opened on the user device. 8.The method of claim 7, wherein the communication interface is aninterface to initiate a video call with the sender of the chat messageitem.
 9. The method of claim 6, wherein selection of a chat message itemcauses a second user interface that includes a plurality of optionsrelated to the chat message item to be presented.
 10. The method ofclaim 1, wherein the portion of the chat interface is above the fixedposition within the chat interface.
 11. A system for navigating throughcontent, the system comprising: a hardware processor that: causes a userinterface to be presented on a user device, wherein the user interfaceincludes a video content item that is concurrently displayed with a chatinterface that presents one or more chat message items; receives astream of content including a first plurality of chat message items,wherein the first plurality of chat message items are received from afirst plurality of user devices and wherein at least one chat messageitem in the first plurality of chat message items comprises aninteractive chat message item; causes at least a portion of the firstplurality of chat message items to be presented in the chat interfacethat is concurrently presented with the video content item; receives afirst selection of the interactive chat message item from the portion ofthe first plurality of chat message items being presented in the chatinterface while continuing to receive the stream of content, wherein asecond plurality of chat message items is included in the stream ofcontent; and in response to receiving the first selection whilecontinuing to receive the second plurality of chat message items, causesthe second plurality of chat message items to be presented, wherein theselected interactive chat message item is held in a fixed positionwithin the chat interface while continuing to update the chat interfacewith additionally received chat message items as the additionallyreceived chat message items are received from a second plurality of userdevices other than the user device.
 12. The system of claim 11, whereinthe first plurality of chat message items are presented in a firstpresentation mode in which the at least a portion of the first pluralityof chat message items is concurrently presented with the video contentitem.
 13. The system of claim 12, wherein the second plurality of chatmessage items are presented in a second presentation mode in which theselected interactive chat message item is held in the fixed positionwithin the chat interface and the chat interface is updated with theadditionally received chat message items as the additionally receivedchat message items are received from the second plurality of userdevices other than the user device.
 14. The system of claim 13, whereinfewer chat message items are presented within the chat interface whilein the second presentation mode than are presented while in the firstpresentation mode.
 15. The system of claim 13, wherein the hardwareprocessor also: receives an indication that the first presentation modeis to be used; and in response to receiving the indication that thefirst presentation mode is to be used, returns to the first presentationmode in which the selected interactive chat message is no longer held inthe fixed position.
 16. The system of claim 11, wherein each chatmessage item presented in the chat interface can be interacted withusing the user device.
 17. The system of claim 16, wherein selection ofa chat message item causes a communication interface for transmittingcommunications to a sender of the chat message item to be opened on theuser device.
 18. The system of claim 17, wherein the communicationinterface is an interface to initiate a video call with the sender ofthe chat message item.
 19. The system of claim 16, wherein selection ofa chat message item causes a second user interface that includes aplurality of options related to the chat message item to be presented.20. The system of claim 11, wherein the portion of the chat interface isabove the fixed position within the chat interface.
 21. A non-transitorycomputer-readable medium containing computer executable instructionsthat, when executed, cause a hardware processor to perform a method fornavigating through content, the method comprising: causing a userinterface to be presented on a user device, wherein the user interfaceincludes a video content item that is concurrently displayed with a chatinterface that presents one or more chat message items; receiving astream of content including a first plurality of chat message items,wherein the first plurality of chat message items are received from afirst plurality of user devices and wherein at least one chat messageitem in the first plurality of chat message items comprises aninteractive chat message item; causing at least a portion of the firstplurality of chat message items to be presented in the chat interfacethat is concurrently presented with the video content item; receiving afirst selection of the interactive chat message item from the portion ofthe first plurality of chat message items being presented in the chatinterface while continuing to receive the stream of content, wherein asecond plurality of chat message items is included in the stream ofcontent; and in response to receiving the first selection whilecontinuing to receive the second plurality of chat message items,causing the second plurality of chat message items to be presented,wherein the selected interactive chat message item is held in a fixedposition within the chat interface while continuing to update the chatinterface with additionally received chat message items as theadditionally received chat message items are received from a secondplurality of user devices other than the user device.